Why does my brick turn white? Masonry sealing in Jefferson City, MO
Masonry sealing in Jefferson City starts with finding the water, then removing the white and sealing a clean, dry wall. We seal brick, stone, block and retaining walls on homes and commercial buildings.
At a glance
- What it is: removing efflorescence and calcium, then sealing brick, stone or block so it takes in less water.
- What is included: finding the water source, cleaning the wall, drying time, then the sealer.
- Who it is for: homes and commercial buildings with brick, stone, block or retaining walls.
- When to book: when white or crust shows up, or before winter if a wall stays damp.
- How to get a quote: use the online form, or call or text (573) 418-9942 with photos of the wall.
Why brick turns white: efflorescence and calcium
Brick and mortar are full of tiny pores, so a wall soaks up water like a hard sponge. When that water dries at the face, it leaves dissolved salts behind as white.
- Efflorescence. Powdery white on brick, block or mortar. It shows up most in late winter and spring, when damp walls dry.
- Calcium deposits. A hard, chalky crust, often in drips below a ledge or joint. Brushing just polishes it, so it needs its own removal step.
- Mold and algae. Green, gray or black on shady faces. That is growth, not minerals, so it comes off with the soft wash we use for house washing.
- Coating failure. A cloudy haze in old sealer often means moisture sits behind the film. So fix the water, not the haze.
Then winter makes it worse. Water expands as it freezes, so a wet wall loses mortar first and brick faces start to flake. Masons call that flaking spalling.
What is included in masonry sealing
We work in order, because sealer over salt, crust or damp locks the problem in.
- Find the water. First we look for the overflowing gutter, the sprinkler, the downspout or the cracked cap. Clear gutters help most, so gutter cleaning often comes before a sealing job.
- Remove the white. Efflorescence and calcium removal is its own step. Then brick and soft stone get a low-pressure soft wash.
- Let it dry. A damp wall pushes moisture out behind fresh sealer, so we would rather move the date than seal a wet wall.
- Seal on a dry stretch. We pick a window with no rain and no hard freeze coming. Missouri springs run damp, so this takes some patience.
Poured concrete steps and slabs follow slab rules instead, so they fall under concrete sealing.
What masonry sealing does and does not do
A sealer slows water. It does not stop a leak.
- It helps the face. Less water gets in, so there is less freezing, less salt carried out and less splash stain on the bottom rows.
- It helps stone. Natural stone drinks fast, so sealing helps with staining too.
- It does not fix damage. Sandy mortar, cracked brick, missing flashing or soil piled against the wall need a mason first.
- It does not pull salts out. Salt already inside stays put, which is why cleaning comes first.
- It has to breathe. A wall must release vapor. So before we start, we talk through how your sealer handles moisture and whether it darkens the brick.
Masonry sealing for brick, stone, block and retaining walls
Masonry sealing is the biggest sealing job we do, because each wall drinks, stains and freezes a little differently.
- Brick sealing
- House brick and veneer are the most common call. White shows low on the wall first, then under sills where water collects.
- Stone sealing
- Limestone is common around here, and it takes up water fast. So stone sealing is as much about stains as freezing.
- Concrete block
- Garden, foundation and commercial walls. Block is thirsty, because it has plenty of mortar joints.
- Retaining wall sealing
- Hillside lots around Jefferson City, Lake Ozark and Osage Beach have plenty of these. Sealer helps the face, but it is not drainage. If water behind the wall is the cause, drainage is the fix.
- Commercial masonry
- Storefronts, banks, offices, apartments, churches and schools. Tall walls may need lift access as an add-on. We are fully insured with workers' compensation, and commercial clients can get a certificate of insurance on request. We also handle commercial building washing.
Request a Bid
A brick retaining wall before cleaning, and a commercial brick wall from the lift.
Masonry sealing questions
You can brush loose efflorescence off with a dry, stiff brush, but it comes back if water still gets in. Skip the pressure washer, because forcing water into the wall feeds the problem. Hard calcium crust will not brush off and needs proper removal.
It can reduce it, once the wall is clean, dry and the water source is fixed. Sealer over a wall with a leak behind it just moves the problem.
New walls are full of construction water, and fresh brick and mortar carry salts. As the wall dries, those salts surface, often in the first season or two. If it keeps coming back, water is getting in somewhere.
We seal brick, natural stone, concrete block and retaining walls on homes and commercial buildings. Each one gets a cleaning method that fits the material.
Wall height and length, the material, how much white or crust is on it, and whether it is still damp. Lift access for tall walls and any water source that needs fixing first also shape the price.
A dry wall stays quiet. A wet one tells on itself.
Tell us where the white shows and how high it climbs, and we will find the water, clean the wall and seal it right.